Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-15
TRI-CITY JOBBERS.

A Protest Sent by the Freight Bureau
to the Conference with the Inter
state Commissioners at MinneapO-
Hs---Commissfoner Wilde's Views.
The Tri-City Shippers association did
not send delegates to the meeting of the
jobbers of the northwest, with the inter
state commerce commissioners at Mime
apolis Tuesday. Instead, an earnest
protest was sent, aud concerning the
meeting. Commissioner Wilde was inter-
viewed by Democrat, Gazette reporter at
Davenport Yesterday.
"'The New York and St. Louis jobbers
are endeavoring to abolish the carload
rates in order to make hundred pounds
TO the unit" said Mr.. Wilde; this, in
connection with an effort to unite the
northwestern railroad commissions in
securing more uniformity in rates
throughout the northwest. would form
the main business of the conference. +"
Another question which would be pressed
on the interstate commission was that of
securing nationa classification. The
commission had expressed determines
tion not to touch this question as yet, but
he thought united effort should be
made to impress its importance on the
commission. 1t was the purpose of
western jobbers to acquaint the commits
sion thoroughly with the vastness aud
Importance of trans,Mississippi interests.
Speaking of his duties as the commis>
sioner for the three cities, Mr. Wilde said
he had not surveyed them yet, so exten,
sive are the rsmifications. 1.-The rail
roads are in the worst mixed up condition
as to freight tariffs they ever knew. All
their old practices avail them little as
lessons in this Juncture. The through
rates clash with their commodity tariffs
and local rates. They don't know what
to do. Do You know what the railroads
that center in Chicago have paid for
printing of tariffs alone since the inter>
state law went into operation-have you
any idea2 Mol Neither did | until
looked into it the other day. The
sum is enormous, amounting TO $150000
at least Why, Just think of the cost in
one break in rates. All of the roads had
their tariffs printed and in operation
when the Minnesota s. Northwestern no.
titled tine lines that it would not submit
TO the established figures. That break
made S25, 900 worth of printing useless.
All the tariffs had TO be reprinted and
new ones posted In every station on every
line"
Mr., Wilde said that IN his duties be
would have to feel his way. rs 1t were, at
first. He has been called upon already
TO act in adjusting rates in the state of
Illinois, and on the 21st he meets his
colleagues on committee appointed for
the purpose at Springfield last week He
will represent Rock Island and Moline,
and the other members are from Decatur,
Quincy, Bloomington and Peoria. The
railroads to be represented are the Chi
csgo, Burlington & Quincy, the OHIO &
Mississippi, the Iluois. Bloomington &
Western, the Lake Erie s. Western. aid
the Toledo, Peoria & Wabash. 1t will
be an important conference.
Mr.. Wilde has been in railroad posi-
ton for thirty years. filling such offices
Ms general freight agent, or as agent for
great lines at such points as Kansas City,
Omaha, st. Paul. where great response
bility rests upon lines representative
1t is believed, says the Democrats Grzette,
the Tri-city Shippers association could not
have selected a more energetic or able
man for the position of railroad commas
sioRer than Mr.. Wilde.
Messrs. S. A. Vielie and j. W. Atkin
son. of Moline, it SO happened, were in
Minneapolis at the time of the conference
and they represented the tri-city associa-
tiOI, though not as regularly appointed
delegates.